Work motivation and occupational self-efficacy belief to continue working among ageing home care nurses: a qualitative study with a mixed methods approach

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Background: It is important to support ageing home care nurses (HCNs) to remain in work for longer, since the need for home care services is increasing. Personal resources such as self-efficacy belief contribute to work ability, as does work motivation. Few studies have targeted the ageing workers’ self-efficacy belief to manage their final working years. This study explores ageing HCNs’ work motivation, and occupational self-efficacy, i.e. belief in one’s capabilities, to continue working until expected retirement age. Methods : This exploratory qualitative study, analysed with a mixed methods approach, reports on phase two of a cross-sectional survey. A total of 234 HCNs answered four open-ended questions, regarding their work motivation and self-efficacy beliefs. First, data was analysed using manifest qualitative content analysis. Next, a quantitative analysis was performed based on the results of the qualitative study, and the categories that emerged were quantitatively ranked. Results: The open-ended questions yielded 2339 utterances. The findings showed that several factors concurrently affected both work motivation and self-efficacy belief. When the factors were well-functioning, they positively affected both motivation and self-efficacy belief, and when they were insufficient, they negatively affected either or both motivation and/or belief. Meaningfulness, job satisfaction, social support, and work environmental and organizational characteristics affected work motivation most. Perceived health highly affected the self-efficacy belief to continue working until expected retirement age, as well as meaningfulness of work, support from colleagues and supervisors, and work characteristics. Conclusions: Through highlighting the meaningfulness of work, and supporting the perceived health, the work community and leadership, both work motivation and self-efficacy belief to continue working might be facilitated among ageing HCNs. However, the still present draining workload must be focused.